Distributed antenna system continuity

ABSTRACT

Technologies are described for using optical and electrical transmission of a plurality of communications services from a plurality of outside sources to a network of users via a distributed antenna system. The systems and methods disclosed herein provide for distribution of the communications services and for re-routing the services when a failure occurs. These systems and methods detect when there is a failure of the service to the network or within the network, where the failure has occurred, and how to redistribute the services via a switching network or matrix.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.15/278,746, filed Sep. 28, 2016, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/IL15/050313 filed on Mar. 25, 2015,which claims the benefit of priority to Provisional Application No.61/972,659 filed on Mar. 31, 2014, both applications being incorporatedby herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technology of this disclosure relates generally to reliability ofantenna distribution systems using both optical fiber and metallicconductors, and more particularly to distribution and re-routing ofcommunications services when a failure occurs.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communications services are expanding rapidly into anever-wider array of communications media. WiFi or wireless fidelitysystems, for example, are now commonplace and being used in a variety ofcommercial and public settings, such as homes, offices, shops, malls,libraries, airports, and the like. Distributed antenna systems arecommonly used to improve coverage and communication of WiFicommunication systems. Distributed antenna systems typically include aplurality of spatially separated antennas. The distributed antennassystems communicate with a variety of such commercial communicationssystems to distribute their services to clients within range of thedistributed antenna system.

One approach to deploying a distributed antenna system involves thedeployment in a location of multiple radio frequency (RF) antennacoverage areas, such as multiple access points, also referred to as“antenna coverage areas.” Antenna coverage areas can have a radius inthe range from a few meters up to twenty meters, as an example.Combining a number of access point devices creates an array of antennacoverage areas within the location. Because each of the antenna coverageareas covers a small area, there are typically only a few users(clients) per antenna coverage area. This allows for minimizing theamount of RF bandwidth shared among the wireless system users. It may bedesirable to provide antenna coverage areas in many locations of abuilding or throughout a building or other facility to providedistributed antenna system access to clients within the building orfacility.

These antenna systems provide efficient distribution of communicationsservices to clients, or a set of client devices, in a desired area of alocation, such as a building or an array of buildings. Within the clientarea, distribution of the services may be provided by an internaldistribution network that is a part of the distributed antenna system.The network may include optical fibers and conventional wired cables fordistributing a variety of communications services. The more widely theseservices are distributed, the greater the chance for a failure. Thefailure may be caused by a broken connection, a component failure or thefailure of the service itself from the service provider.

There is a need for improvement in the reliability of the distributionsystems that provide these communications services. What is needed is abetter way to detect failures to communicate and to overcome thefailures that may occur in large networks of users.

SUMMARY

Technologies are described for using optical and electrical transmissionof a plurality of communications services from a plurality of outsidesources to a network of users via a distributed antenna system. Thesystems and methods disclosed herein provide for distribution of thecommunications services and for re-routing the services when a failureoccurs. These systems and methods detect when there is a failure of theservice to the network or within the network, where the failure hasoccurred, and how to redistribute the services via a switching networkor matrix to overcome the failure.

In a first embodiment of the present disclosure a distributed antennasystem (DAS) includes a switching matrix of a plurality of programmableswitches configured for connecting a plurality of communicationsservices to a plurality of optical input modules (OIMs). Each of theplurality of services is provided through at least one sector. Aplurality of radio distributor/combiner (RDC) modules is configured forcombining the plurality of communications services into a broadbandcommunication signal or for splitting a broadband communication signalinto a plurality of communications services. A control module isconfigured for controlling routing of a second communications service ofthe plurality of communications services through the switching matrix tothe plurality of OIMs to provide a substitute service for a first failedcommunications service of the plurality of communications services.

In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a distributed antennasystem (DAS) includes a first plurality of radio distribution/combiners(RDCs) configured for connecting to a plurality of communicationsservices, each of the plurality of communications services providedthrough at least one sector. A second plurality of radiodistribution/combiner (RDCs) is connected with the first plurality ofRDCs. The second plurality of RDCs is configured for connecting to aplurality of Optical Input Modules (OIMs) for receiving the plurality ofcommunications services. Each of the second plurality of RDCs isconnected with one of the first plurality of RDCs. A first switchingmatrix of a first plurality of programmable switches is connected at afirst end to the plurality of communications services and at a secondend to the first plurality of RDCs for routing the plurality ofcommunications services to the first plurality of RDCs. Each of thesecond plurality of RDCs is separately addressable by each RDC of thefirst plurality of RDCs. A second switching matrix of a second pluralityof switches is connected at a first end to the second plurality of RDCsand at a second end to the OIMs for routing the plurality ofcommunications services to the plurality of OIMs. Each of the OIMs isseparately addressable by each RDC of the second plurality of RDCs. Acontrol module is configured for routing the plurality of communicationsservices to the first plurality of RDCs through the first switchingmatrix and for routing the plurality of communications services to theplurality of OIMs through the second switching matrix. The controlmodule is configured, in the event of a failure of a firstcommunications service, for controlling routing of a secondcommunications service through the RDC modules and the switchingmatrices to at least one of the plurality of optical input modules(OIMs) to provide a substitute service for the first failed service.

Another embodiment of the present disclosure is a method for controllinga distributed antenna system. The method includes a step of arranging aplurality of radio distributor/combiner (RDC) modules for connecting aplurality of communications services with a plurality of optical inputmodules (OIMs). Each of the plurality of communications services isprovided through one or more sectors. The method also includes providinga plurality of primary communication paths for the plurality ofcommunications services through the plurality of RDC modules to theplurality of OIMs, detecting a failure of at least one firstcommunications service of the plurality of communications services, andcontrolling routing of at least one second communications service of theplurality of communications services from the plurality of primarycommunication paths to at least one secondary redundant path to providea substitute service for the failed first communications service.

The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be inany way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments,and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and featureswill become apparent by reference to the drawings and the followingdetailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The foregoing and other features of this disclosure will become morefully apparent from the following description and appended claims, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that thesedrawings depict only several embodiments in accordance with thedisclosure and are, therefore, not to be considered limiting of itsscope, the disclosure will be described with additional specificity anddetail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a schematic diagram of an exemplary distributed antennasystem configured to distribute communications signals within aninstallation, such as a building. The communications signalsillustratively includes digital data;

FIG. 2 depicts an alternate schematic view of a distributed antennasystem for providing a plurality of communications services to aplurality of users;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of two functional blocks for a distributedantenna system (DAS), a head end unit (HEU) and an optical input unit(OIU);

FIG. 4 depicts schema for communications services, such as for abuilding, using building blocks for services (s) and sectors (c);

FIG. 5 depicts an implementation of a distributed antenna system for abuilding, using the structure of FIG. 3, a head end unit and an opticalinput unit, and the schema of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 uses the implementation of FIG. 5 to depict an example of afailure in a single service/sector and a possible recovery scheme tominimize any interruption of communications services to the affectedservice/sector;

FIG. 7 is a schema for communications services that continues with theexample of the failure depicted in FIG. 6, depicting a change in thehead end unit RF matrices switching scheme following the failure;

FIG. 8 depicts another example of a failure, this time a broader failureof a combination of services for an area, and a possible recovery schemeto minimize interruption of communications services to the entiresector;

FIG. 9 continues with the example of the failure of FIG. 8, depictingthe change in switching scheme following this wider failure;

FIG. 10 depicts possible locations of power detectors to detect failureswithin the distributed antenna system, so as to indicate whether asingle service, a single sector, or a combination of services/sectorshas failed;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart depicting one method for minimizingcommunications interruptions according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is an additional flowchart depicting an alternate method forminimizing communications interruptions according to the presentdisclosure; all figures are arranged according to at least someembodiments presented herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings,similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless contextdictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in thedetailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting.Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made,without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matterpresented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of thepresent disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated inthe Figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, anddesigned in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which areexplicitly contemplated herein.

The technology of this disclosure relates generally to reliability ofantenna distribution systems using both optical fiber and metallicconductors, and more particularly to distribution and re-routing ofcommunications services when a failure occurs.

Briefly stated, technologies are generally described for using opticaland electrical transmission of a plurality of communications servicesfrom a plurality of outside sources to a network of users via adistributed antenna system. A distributed antenna system (DAS) includesa switching matrix of a plurality of programmable switches configuredfor connecting a plurality of communications services to a plurality ofoptical input modules (OIMs). Each of the plurality of services isprovided through at least one sector. A plurality of radiodistributor/combiner (RDC) modules is configured for combining theplurality of communications services into a broadband communicationsignal or for splitting a broadband communication signal into aplurality of communications services. A control module is configured forcontrolling routing of a second communications service of the pluralityof communications services through the switching matrix to the pluralityof OIMs to provide a substitute service for a first failedcommunications service of the plurality of communications services.

In describing more fully this disclosure, we make reference to thefollowing definitions. By the term “communication service” is meantdigital data services including but not limited to Ethernet, WLAN,Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Radio overFiber (RoF), Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), PCS band, 2G, 3G, 4G, GSM,Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and Long Term Evolution (LTE), etc.

By the term “distributed antenna system” or DAS is meant an antennasystem including a plurality of spatially separated antennas. The DASmay communicate with a variety of such commercial communications systemsto distribute the services to clients within range of the distributedantenna system. The distributed antenna system may be an opticalfiber-based distributed antenna system, but such is not required, andsuch systems may include both optical fibers and standard wiredcommunications cables, such as those with copper conductors. It will beappreciated that the distributed antenna system may be a wire-based or awireless system.

By the term “head end unit (HEU)” is meant a plurality of RDCs and aswitching matrix for combining a plurality of communications signalsinto a broad band signal for further transmission, such as to an opticalinput unit, and for splitting a broadband signal from an optical inputunit into individual communication signals, thus allowing two-waycommunications.

By the term “optical input unit (OIU)” is meant a plurality of RDCs anda switching matrix for transmitting a broadband electrical signal from ahead end unit to a destination, such as to a plurality of optical inputmodules. The optical input unit also receives a plurality of broadbandelectrical signals from the plurality of optical input modules andtransmits them in the opposite direction, such as to the head end unit,thus allowing for two-way communications.

By the term “radio distribution/combiner (RDC) is meant a device thatcombines narrowband signals into broadband signals and splits broadbandsignals into narrowband signals. The signals are illustrativelyelectrical signals but may be an optical or other signal. The RDCs maybe RDC cards, e.g., circuit boards with the appropriate combining andsplitting functionality well known in the art

By the term “optical input module” is meant a device that convertsbroadband electrical signals into broadband optical signals and viceversa.

By the term “remote antenna unit (RAU)” is meant a device connected toan optical input module that converts and filters a broadband opticalsignal into a narrow electrical signal and vice versa.

By the term “narrowband communication signals” is meant a specific bandof frequencies of operation of a communication service that a provideris permitted to transmit under communication guidelines and permissions.

By the term “broadband communication signals” is meant a band ofcommunication signals that is made up of two or more narrow bands ofcommunication signals.

By the term “clients or recipients of these services” is meant devicessuch as cellular phones, smart phones, wireless computers, wirelesslap-top computers, mobile devices such as tablet computers, padcomputers, personal digital assistant, and wireless sensors or networksof sensors, such as mesh network sensors. These examples are notintended to be limiting, and the present disclosure is not limited tothese examples of client devices.

This disclosure is generally drawn, inter alia, to methods, apparatus,systems, devices, and computer program products related to insuring thereliability of communications systems. In particular, the disclosureconcerns the input and distribution of a wide variety of radio-frequencyand digital communications to an area, such as a building. The area maybe sufficiently large to require sub-division into a plurality ofsectors, such as floors of the building, or other suitable subdivision.

In the present disclosure, each of these communications services isseparately considered as a “service.” As discussed below, the provisionand distribution of each service is monitored to insure its reliability.The distribution of each service to one or more areas or “sectors” ismonitored so that if a failure occurs, service to the affected sectorcan be quickly restored. Thus, the present disclosure concerns providingservices to a plurality of “service/sectors,” i.e., each service to eachsector is considered separately, tracked and monitored. As will be seenin the discussion below, a first service, such as a WiFi service, may belabeled S1. The service may be provided to one or more areas or sectors,e.g., C1 or C2, such as the first and second floors of a building. Inthis disclosure, the provision of service S1 to the sector associatedwith the first floor is thus termed “S1C1,” e.g., WiFi service to thefirst floor of the building, which may be a centrally-located hot spot.The same service may also be provided to the second floor, and thuswould be termed “S1C2.” These labels aid in discussing switching schemesand methods for tracking reliability, detecting failures, and restoringservices to the affected sectors.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts an example of a prior artdistributed antenna system (DAS) 100 for a first 101, a second 102 and athird 103 floor, respectively, of a building 105. In this example aplurality of communications services 110 are provided, suchcommunications coming from first, second and third base stations 112 a,112 b 112 c over cables 113 a, 113 b, 113 c respectively. The servicesare input to a head end unit (HEU) 120 for routing through distributedantenna system 100. The distributed antenna system 100 is controlled bya computer 160 with operator input device 162. The computer may includelocal memory and may have access to remote memory, as well as computerprograms stored on at least one non-transitory medium, either locally orremotely. The computer 160 may be connected directly to the head endunit 120 and may be in control of other elements of the distributedantenna system via wired connections or remotely, as shown. The computersystem may also control an optical interface unit 125, which has beenpreviously defined.

The communication services are illustratively routed through distributedantenna system 100 as shown in FIG. 1. Cable or hard wire outputs 118from the head end unit 120 may connect to the optical input unit 125 andthen to interconnect units 130, 140, 150 for serving the first, secondand third floors 101, 102, 103 of building 105. Interconnect units 130,140, 150 provide mechanical interfaces and power to the cable outputsfrom the interconnect units.

The computer 160 may be used to control the head end unit, the opticalinput unit and the interconnect units of the system. The computer mayalso control or monitor switches and switch matrices of the head endunit and optical input unit useful in operation of distributed antennasystems. The computer may be supplied with a non-transitory memory and acomputer program useful for routing the signals through the system.

Within each floor, the services are then provided separately, as shown.Thus, the first floor 101 may be provided, through its interconnect unit130, with an Ethernet wire distribution 132, a Wi-Fi hot spot 134, and atelecommunications antenna 136. In this example, similar services may beprovided to the second and third floors 102, 103, through theirinterconnect units 140, 150 with Ethernet lines 142, 152, Wi-Fi hotspots 144, 154 and telecommunications antennas 146, 156.

FIG. 2 depicts an alternate view of a prior art distributed antennasystem 200. In this view, head end unit 230 receives communicationsservices inputs 234 a, 234 b, 234 c which are applied over cables 235 a,235 b 235 c to a plurality of radio distributor/combiners/splitters(RDCs) 236 a,b,c. These services are provided by base stations ofservice providers (not shown). The head end unit may also include apower supply or power source 220. The head end unit includes theplurality of radio distributor/combiners/splitters (RDCs) 236 a, 236 b,236 c for combining the signals into a broadband output signal 242 inone direction. RDCs may be RDC cards, e.g., circuit boards with theappropriate functions well known in the art. The RDCs also provide forsplitting of a broadband input in the other direction. In other words,the RDCs split the broadband signal into its narrow band component partsfor transmission in the opposite direction, thereby allowing for two-waycommunication.

In this embodiment, the broadband signal 242 is transmitted via cable(shown as element 118 in FIG. 1) to the optical input unit 250, whichmay also be equipped with a power source or power supply 255. Opticalinput unit 250 includes a second plurality of radio/distributorcombiners (RDCs) 256 a, 256 b, 256 c, which may be RDC cards, e.g.,circuit boards with the appropriate functions well known in the art. Inthis embodiment, the RDC cards of the optical input unit 250 typicallydo not perform signal combining or splitting, although they may becapable of such action. The optical input unit 250 passes the broadbandsignal 259 to a plurality 260 of optical input modules (OIMs) 261 a, 261b, 261 c. As shown in FIG. 2, each OIM may service three remote antennaunits (RAUs) with a broadband signal 265. Hence, the OIMs in thisembodiment may serve up to nine clients.

As shown in FIG. 2, optical input module 261 a has three outputs, 271 a,271 b, 271 c for sending broadband signal 265 to three remote antennaunits 286 a, 286 b, 286 c. Each optical input module further has anelectrical to optical and an optical to electrical switching pair (notshown). More specifically, the broadband electrical signal 259 that isgenerated by RDC 250 and applied to optical input modules (OIMs) 261 a,261 b, 261 c is converted by the optical input modules into broadbandoptical signals 265 for transmission to the remote antenna units (RAUs).

At the RAUs the broadband optical signal is converted back into anelectrical signal and filtered into a narrowband electrical signal whichis transmitted to the clients. To effect the conversion at the RAUs ofthe optical signal to electrical signal and vice-versa, each remoteantenna unit is likewise provided with an electrical to optical and anoptical to electrical switching pair (not shown). Hence, the broadbandoptical signal 265 which is applied to each remote antenna unit isconverted by the RAUs into a filtered electrical signal for transmissionto clients 292, 294, 296 as shown. With client 292, which isillustratively a personal computer, the remote antenna unit provides theelectrical signal as an Ethernet service. With clients 294 and 296 theelectrical signal is wireless. These and other ways for deliveringcommunication services to clients through a distributed antenna serviceare well known in the art.

As previously described, the communication services may be narrow bandelectrical signals provided by service providers over different bands offrequencies such as 400 MHz to 2700 MHz frequency range, such as 400-700MHz, 700 MHz-1 GHz, 1 GHz-1.6 GHz, and 1.6 GHz-2.7 GHz, as examples.Radio Input Modules may be used as part of the service input.

The number of communication services, the number of OIMs, and the numberRAUs are a matter of design.

Having thus provided an overview of a distributed antenna system, we nowturn to features that are provided by this disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows a distributed antenna system (DAS) 300 of this disclosure.DAS 300 comprises a head end unit 301 with a first plurality of radiodistribution/combiners (RDCs) 309 a, 309 b, 309 c and a first switchingmatrix 305 of a first plurality of programmable switches 306 a. Thedistributed antenna system of FIG. 3 also includes an optical input unit302 with a second plurality of radio distribution/combiners (RDCs) 311a, 311 b, 311 c and a second switching matrix 307 of a second pluralityof switches 306 b. Head end unit 301 also includes a plurality ofservice communications services 304 applied to input ports (not shown),and a plurality of outputs 316 applied to optical input modules (OIMs)320. Head end unit 301 also includes a primary control module 330,including a microprocessor 332 in communication 334 with memory 336, formanaging the head end unit and operating the switch matrix 305. Opticalinput unit (OIU) 302 also includes a secondary control module 350 with amicroprocessor 352 in communication 354 with a memory 356 forcontrolling the optical input unit and its switching matrix 307. Thereis a hard-wire connections (not shown for simplicity) among each of theRDCs of the head end unit and among each of the RDCs of the opticalinput unit. These connections make it possible for additional routing ofsignals and services in the event of failures. Controllers 330, 350 maybe hard wired 340 together as shown or may have a wireless connection inorder to allow cross-talk between the controllers. The controllersmanage the distributed antenna system and the switching matrices to workaround failures and to provide reliable services. An IP connectionprotocol is used to govern the operation of the system in someembodiments.

The first plurality of radio distribution/combiners (RDCs) 309 a, 309 b,309 c is configured for connecting to a plurality of communicationsservices. The services are shown as 304-1 through 304-12. RDCs 309 a,309 b, 309 c may be RDC cards (circuit boards) capable of combining andsplitting signals of the plurality of services as previously described.In one embodiment, combining signals may be accomplished bysuperposition of the narrowband channels into a broadband output signal.Splitting of signals (in the opposite direction) may be accomplished bydemultiplexing or filtering. Each of the plurality of communicationsservices is provided through at least one sector as previouslydescribed. RDCs 309 a, 309 b, 309 c are in communication with controller330 via hard-wired connections 310 a, 310 b, 310 c.

The second plurality of radio distribution/combiner (RDCs) 311 a, 311 b,311 c is connected with the first plurality of RDCs and are configuredfor connecting to a plurality of Optical Input Modules (OIMs) 316-1through 316-12 for receiving the plurality of communications services.Each of the second plurality of RDCs is connected with one of the firstplurality of RDCs, as shown later in the drawings. RDCs 311 a, 311 b,311 c are in communication with controller 350 via hard-wiredconnections 312 a, 312 b, 312 c.

In one embodiment, RDCs 311 a, 311 b, 311 c may also be RDC cards(circuit boards) but these RDCs unlike their counterpart RDCs 309 a, 309b, 309 c, do not have or do not use their capability to combine signalsor split them out since the signal 360 applied to RDCs 311 a, 311 b, 311c is a broadband signal as are any signals being applied to the RDCs 311a, 311 b, 311 c from the OIMs 316. In the distributed antenna system,the optical input unit 302 transmits a broadband input signal to andfrom the head end unit and it passes a broadband signal to and from theplurality of OIMs 316-1 through 316-12.

Each OIM may service a plurality of remote antenna units (RAUs). Asshown in FIG. 3, each OIM in this embodiment services three RAUs, 320-1through 320-36. Other combinations may be used. In the event offailures, the OIMs and the RAUs may be tasked to provide additionalservices, up to their capacity, through the switching matrixes. Thisadvantage of capacity steering of the distributed antenna system isexplained later.

As indicated above, the head end unit 301 includes the first switchingmatrix 305 of a first plurality of programmable switches 306 a forrouting the plurality of communications services to the first pluralityof RDCs. As also previously explained, the optical input module 302further includes the second switching matrix 307 of a second pluralityof programmable switches 306 b for routing the plurality ofcommunications services from the second plurality of RDCs 311 a, 311 b,311 c to the plurality of OIMs, each of the OIMs separately addressableby each RDC of the second plurality of RDCs.

The programmable switches 306 a, 306 b are managed by control modules330, 350. More specifically, the memory 336, 367, in control modules330, 350, respectively, include a program of instructions for managingwhich of the plurality of programmable switches 306 a,b are on or off atany point in time. The switches of the plurality of switches that areturned on by the program of instructions at a point of time will definethe route that the communication signals 304 will take through the headend unit and the optical input unit at that one point in time.

In particular, the distributed antenna system 300 is configured suchthat in the event of a failure of a first communications service, thecontrol modules 330, 350 control routing of a second communicationsservice through the switching matrices and RDC modules to at least oneof the plurality of optical input modules (OIMs) to provide a substituteservice for the first failed service. Specifically, the control moduleswill detect the failure of the first communication service based onsignals provided by a detector as explained below, and in response turnoff the switches that were previously set to route the firstcommunication signal through the system. Illustratively, the controlmodules will then turn on programmable switches to allow the secondcommunication service to be routed to the optical input modules (OIMs)that were previously provided with the first communication service. Inthis way, on failure of the first communication service this disclosureredistributes the second communication service such that itillustratively services not only to the OIMs previously serviced butalso the OIMs that were affected by the failure of the firstcommunication service.

In the distributed antenna system 300 of this disclosure, each of theplurality of communications services and sectors 304-1 through 304-12may be routed in accordance with a primary path in addition to a numberof redundant paths as explained below that may be stored in registersstored in memory 336, 356, respectively, in the control modules 330,350. When the control module detects a failure of the firstcommunication signal, the control module determines to use the secondcommunication signal, for example, as the substitute communication forthe failed communication signal. The program of instructions in memorythen determine the redundant path for the second communication signalthat will allow the second communication signal to also be provided tothe OIMs experiencing the failed service. The program of instructionsthen sets the programmable switches in order to activate the redundantpath so as to allow the second communication signal to be routed to theOIMs experiencing the failed service in addition to the continuedrouting of the second communication signal to the OIMs prior to thefailure.

Before turning to specific examples of the routing and rerouting ofcommunication services by this disclosure in response to a failure, wefirst explain further detail about the services and sectors that aredistributed by the DAS of this disclosure so that the specific examplesof using this disclosure are more readily apparent.

The distributed antenna system of the present disclosure is capable ofproviding a number of services, where each service S is an electricalsignal for transferring data. Data may encompass voice and non-voicecommunications using a particular wireless technology, e.g. CDMA, in aparticular frequency channel. It is understood that each Service usesits own channel with no overlap between channels. Each of the servicesmay be provided through a number of sectors C, for example, as shownabove, floors of a building, or portions of a floor, and so forth.

A sector C is an allocation of the service S into a manageable unit withall the sectors of a service being allocated throughout the system on asector by sector basis. The sector C may be defined as a “sub-service”since it provides wireless connectivity using a certain wirelesstechnology (e.g. CDMA) in a certain frequency channel. All sectors thatbelong to the same service use the same wireless technology (e.g. CDMA)but are usually separated by frequency or by code or by time or by otherinterference mitigation mechanism.

The distributed antenna system of this disclosure uses a plurality ofantennas distributed across the building or other area for which serviceis being provided. The antennas may be grouped so that each group mayserve a different area out of a number of areas of the building. Eachgroup may serve different sets of sectors belonging to differentservices “Service/sector,” which may be abbreviated as ServiceM/SectorNor SmCn, e.g., S1C1, S2C2, and so forth, in which the Service (type ofcommunication) is designated as S and the particular sector (e.g., flooror other area) is designated as C.

In one example, a large building is divided to three areas. Each area isserved by a different group of antennas and each group of antennas isserving a different set of Service/Sectors. For example: the antennas infloors 1-5 may form a group A1 serving service 1 sector1 and service 2sector 1 (S1C1; S2C1), the antennas in floors 6-10 may form a group A2serving service 1 sector2 and service 2 sector 3 (S1C2; S1C2), theantennas in floors 11-15 may form a group A3 serving service 1 sector3and service 2 sector 3 (S1C3; S1C3).

In terms of the architecture to implement the foregoing allocation ofservices/sectors, a system according to the present disclosure may usetwo modules shown in FIG. 3; namely, the head end unit 301 and itsswitch matrix 305 and the optical input unit 302 and its switch matrix307. Head end unit 301 may be located near the communications basestation service inputs, as shown, for example, for head end unit 120 inFIG. 1. The head end unit may comprise a plurality of RDC elements, aspreviously discussed, for example an RDC element in communication withan optical input unit and an interconnection unit on each floor or neareach service area. The head end unit is used for connecting thedistributed antenna system to the base stations or more specifically tothe Service/Sector ports to which communication services 304-1 to 304-12are applied. The Service/Sector ports are connected to RadioDistributer/Combiner (RDC) elements 308 a, 308 b, 308 c.

The number of RDC's that the HEU and the OIU include determines thenumber of the different basic “service/sector” combinations that the DASsupports. According to the example provide in FIG. 3, three RDC's areused in the HEU and in the OIU, which enables the creation of threebasic “service/sector” combinations (M). With M basic ways to order theRDCs in delivering service/sector combinations, it is possible to createM! or six different ways in which to order the RDCs, that is, configurethe order of the RDCs, to deliver services to Areas 1, 2, 3 (shown inFIG. 5). Each “Service/Sector” 104 may be connected through a softwarecontrolled switch 306 a, 306 b to each of the RDC's. This allows toroute to each of the RDC's any combination of “service/sectors.”

With the foregoing background on delivery of communicationsservices/sectors throughout a building and still referring to FIG. 3, weturn now to control modules 330, 350, respectively and more particularlyto the program of instructions for managing which of the plurality ofprogrammable switches 306 a, 306 b are on or off at any point in time.FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative schema for communications services, suchas for a building, using building blocks for services (s) and sectors(c). In this schema, the building is divided into three areas where eacharea is served by twelve RAUs. The three areas may be, for example,floors of a three-floor building. Each of the RAUs at each of the areasis serving four services S1, S2, S3 and S4. However in each areadifferent sectors of these services are provided. At area 1:S₁C₃+S₂C₃+S₃C₃+S₄C₃; at area 2: S₁C₂+S₂C₂+S₃C₂+S₄C; and at area 3:S₁C₁+S₂C₁+S₃C₁+S₄C₁. One head end unit 301 and one optical input unit302 are illustratively used to build this distributed antenna system.

FIG. 5 shows the interconnection between a head end unit (HEU) 301 andan optical input unit OIU 302 and the constellation of the HEU and theOIU switch matrixes 305, 306 required for structuring the distributedantenna system DAS 300 according to the schema of FIG. 4. Thedistributed antenna system 300 interconnections between the head endunit 301 and the optical input unit 302 and the head end unit andoptical input unit switch matrixes 305, 307. The elements in FIG. 5 arevery similar to like elements in FIG. 3, except for the individualconnections 501, 502, 503 between RDCs 308 a-311 c, 308 b-311 b and 308c-311 a. The connections are also labeled with the particularService/Sectors that are broadband connected through these connections.Note that in this embodiment, each RDC connected pair handles abroadband signal, but each is different. Each broadband signal includescommunication services S1, S2, S3, and S4; however, the sectors C foundin the communication services for each broadband signal is different.For example, broadband signal 309 a includes sector C3, broadband signal309 b includes sector C2, and broadband signal 309 c includes sector C1.These particular Services/Sectors that are connected for combining inthe particular RDC are selected by a controller 330 or 350 (shown inFIG. 4). In one embodiment, the connections between RDCs 308 a, 308 b,308 c and RDCs 311 a, 311 b, 311 c are made by metallic lines, e.g.,copper.

The distributed antenna system DAS 300 in FIG. 5 serves three areas:namely, Area 1 is served by four OIMs, 316-1 through 316-4; Area 2 byfour OIMs; and Area 3 by four OIMs. Each OIM can handle three remoteantenna units, for a total of twelve RAUs for Area 1; twelve RAUs forArea 2; and twelve RAUs for Area 3. There are 36 RAU's possible by theillustrated architecture of FIG. 6. The twelve RAUs in each Area receivea broadband optical signal made up of four narrow band optical signals.For example, the broadband signal delivered to each of the twelve RAUsin Area 1 may contain S1C3, S2C3, S3C3, S4C3. Each of the twelve RAUs inArea 1 will be configured to filter out all but one of the narrow bandsignals so that only one of S1C3, S2C3, S3C3, and S4C4 will be deliveredto the portion of the Area associated with an RAU. Of course, the RAUwill convert the optical signal to an electrical signal so that thesignal delivered to the portion of the Area associated with the RAU isan electrical signal.

So long as all of the services and sectors transmitted to each OIM 316is delivering services adequate for their use, there may be no problemwith distributed antenna system DAS 300. But if there is a failure inone of the signals being transmitted to each OIM 316, the result may bedropped calls, poor reception, and other communication efficiencies.These failures may include the cessation of a service altogether.Alternatively, it may include the inability of the bandwidth provided toan Area to support the communication requirements of that Area. Forexample, if a conference with many attendees is scheduled for Area 1, ifthere is not enough bandwidth to enough bandwidth to serve all theattendees, the distributed antenna system DAS 300 will have failed.

The control modules 330, 350 of this disclosure monitor failures of thisand other kinds that are detected by devices described below and providecapacity steering to reroute one or more other communication signals tothe Area of the failure in order to offset the communicationdeficiencies attributed by the failure and to preferably provide asuninterrupted a service to the Area of the failure as may be possible.

FIG. 6 illustrates one way in which capacity steering of this disclosuremay be used to address a failure. In particular, FIG. 6 shows a group ofservices shown in a schema 602 being transmitted to Areas 1, 2, 3. Inthis schema, control modules 330, 350 and more particularly the programof instructions for managing which of the plurality of programmableswitches 306 a, 306 b are on or off at any point in time have set theprogrammable switches 306 a 1-4 of switching matrices 306 a andprogrammable switches 306 b 1-4 of switching matrices 306 b to provide aroute of services S1C3, S2C3, S3C3, and S3C4 to Area 1 at time t=t0.Note that RDC 308 c which is connected to the programmable switches 306a 1-306 a 4 is connected to RDC 311 a which is connected to programmableswitches 306 b 1-306 b 4 in this example. Also, as previously indicated,these narrowband services of each of S1C3 and S2C3 and S3C3 and S4C3will be combined by RDC 308 c in this example into a broadbandelectrical signal S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 and delivered as a broadbandelectrical signal to each of the four OIMs that service Area 1. Each OIMwill convert the broadband electrical signal to a broadband opticalsignal and apply that broadband signal to each RAU connected thereto.Each RAU will in turn filter the narrowband optical signal that it isprogrammed to deliver and convert that optical signal to an electricalsignal. Each RAU will then transmit that electrical signal to theportion of the area it is designed to cover.

Illustratively, at all or substantially all times, the control modules330, 350 are monitoring the foregoing services. While at time t=t0, allcommunication services S1C2, S2C3, S3C3, and S4C3 are operational asshown in schema 602 in FIG. 6, at time t−t1 a failure of service S1C3has occurred as shown in schema 604. More specifically, schema 604 inFIG. 6 shows that at time t=t1, the control modules have detected afailure of service S1C3. In response, as shown in schema 606, at timet=t2, the control modules 330, 350 disconnects service S1C3 and connectsservice S1C2 in its place. Hence, whereas at time t−t1 there was afailure in the communication services being provided by the DAS, at timet=t2, the DAS of this disclosure has corrected that failure by replacingthe broadband electrical signal S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 that included thefailed S1C3 communication signal with a new broadband signal ofS1C2++S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 that includes an operational service S1C2 todeliver to the clients in Area 1. By this disclosure, the failure ofservice S1C3 was detected by control modules 330, 350 and the broadbandservices transmitted to Area 1 was reconfigured by programming switch306 a 4 OFF at time t=t2 as shown in FIG. 5 for the purposes ofdisconnecting service S1C3 from the communication path to Area 1, andprogramming switch 306 a 5 ON at time t=t2 as also shown in FIG. 5 forthe purposes of connecting service S2C3 to a communication path to Area1 as shown in FIG. 5. Hence, by this disclosure, operational serviceS1C2 was used to replace the failed service S1C3 in the broadbandservice delivered to Area 1 after the failure.

FIG. 7 shows the interconnection between a head end unit (HEU) 301 andan optical input unit OIU 302 and the constellation of the HEU and theOIU switch matrixes 305, 307 required for structuring the distributedantenna system DAS 300 according to another schema shown in FIG. 8. Thedistributed antenna system 300 interconnections between the head endunit 301 and the optical input unit 302 and the head end unit andoptical input unit switch matrixes 305, 307 in FIG. 7 are very similarto like elements in FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another way in which capacity steering of thisdisclosure may be used to address a failure. In particular, FIG. 8 showsa group of services shown in a schema 802 being transmitted to Areas 1,2, 3. In this schema, control modules 330, 350 (shown in FIG. 5) andmore particularly the program of instructions for managing which of theplurality of programmable switches 306 a, 306 b are on or off at anypoint in time have set programmable switches of switching matrices 306 aand programmable switches of switching matrices 306 b to provide a routeof services S1C3, S2C3, S3C3, and S3C4 to Area 1 at time t=t0. Note thatRDC 308 c which is connected to a cluster of programmable switches 706 a1 is connected to RDC 311 a which is connected to a cluster ofprogrammable switch 706 b 1 in this example. Also, as previouslyindicated, these narrowband services of each of S1C3 and S2C3 and S3C3and S4C3 will be combined by RDC 308 c in this example into a broadbandelectrical signal S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 and delivered as a broadbandelectrical signal to each of the four OIMs that service Area 1. Each OIMwill convert the broadband electrical signal to a broadband opticalsignal and apply that broadband signal to each RAU connected thereto.Each RAU will in turn filter the narrowband optical signal that it isprogrammed to deliver and convert that optical signal to an electricalsignal for transmission to the portion of the area it is designed tocover.

Illustratively, at all or substantially times, the control modules 330,350 are monitoring the foregoing services. Schema 802 shown in FIG. 8shows that at time t=t0 all services are operational. Schema 804 showsthat at time t=t1, the control modules have detected a failure of allfour narrowband services S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3. In response, at time t=t2,the control modules 330, 350 disconnect all four of the failed servicesS1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 and connect services S1C2+S2C2+S3C2+S4C2 in theirplace as shown in schema 806. Hence, at time t=t2, the broadband opticalsignal is no longer S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3. Rather, the broadband opticalsignal is now made up of narrow bands S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3. This is shownin FIG. 7 of the DAS of this disclosure by turning OFF the cluster ofprogrammable switches 706 a 1 at time t=t2 (i.e., the switches thatconnect S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 to Area 1) and turning ON the cluster ofprogrammable switches 706 a 2 (i.e., the switches that connectS1C2+S2C2+S3C2+S4C2 to Area 1) to provide the substitute service.

By this disclosure, the failure of services S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 wasdetected by control modules 330, 350 and the broadband services thatwere transmitted to Area 1 were reconfigured by programming OFF of theswitches that routed S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 to Area 1 and programming ON ofthe switches that caused services S1C2+S2C2+S3C2+S4C2 to be rerouted toprovide services to Area 1 in place of the failed services in additionto continuing to service Area 2.

FIG. 9 shows the interconnection between a head end unit (HEU) 301 andan optical input unit OIU 302 and the constellation of the HEU and theOIU switch matrixes 305, 306 required for structuring the distributedantenna system DAS 300 according to another schema. The distributedantenna system 300 interconnections between the head end unit 301 andthe optical input unit 302 and the head end unit and optical input unitswitch matrixes 305, 306 in FIG. 9 are very similar to like elements inFIG. 7.

FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate another way in which capacity steering of thisdisclosure may be used to address a failure. In particular, FIG. 9 showsthe group of services shown in schema 802 shown in FIG. 8 beingtransmitted to Areas 1, 2, 3. Here, the failure occurs in the switchingmatrices of the optical input unit OIU 307.

Illustratively, at all or substantially all times, the control modules330, 350 are monitoring the foregoing services. On detection by thecontrol module of the failure of the broadband servicesS1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3, the control modules 330, 350 turns off programmableswitches 902 and turns on programmable switches 904 so that thebroadband optical services of S1C2+S2C2+S3C2+S4C2 may be applied to theOIMs servicing Area 1 to provide for illustratively uninterruptedservice in its place as shown in schema 804. Hence, at time t=t2, thebroadband optical signal is no longer S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3. Rather, thebroadband optical signal is made up of narrow bands S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3.By this disclosure, the failure of services S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 in theoptical input unit OIU 307 were detected by control modules 330, 350 andthe broadband services transmitted to Area 1 reconfigured by programmingOFF of switches 902 which routed services S1C3+S2C3+S3C3+S4C3 to Area 1and programming ON switches 904 which caused servicesS1C2+S2C2+S3C2+S4C2 to be rerouted to provide services to Area 1 inplace of the failed services in addition to continuing to service Area2.

FIG. 10 depicts one embodiment of a distributed antenna system 1000 withdetectors. Distributed antenna system 1000 includes one head end unit(HEU) 301 and an optical input unit (OIU) 302, each of which includes aswitching matrix, as described above but not shown in FIG. 10. In thisembodiment, each Service/Sector input 304-1 through 304-12 also includesa detector 306-1 through 306-12, as shown. The detectors are shown inseries with the service/sector inputs. The head end unit 301 is depictedas connected through its RDCs 308-a, 308-b, 308-c and also withdetectors 309 a, 309 b, 309 c for detecting a failure in the RDCs. Theoptical input unit 302 includes detectors 313 a, 313 b, and 313 c fordetecting failures in RDCs 312 a, 312 b, 312 c. In a similar manner,detectors 312-21 through 312-32 are depicted in series with opticalinput modules 316-1 through 316-12 of the optical input unit 302.

One straightforward way to detect connection failure for the opticalinput modules is to simply adapt the detectors as power detectors. If nopower is consumed at all, there has been a failure of connection or ofinput, since normal polling or checking will reveal a problem. Forexample, operation of the E/O and O/E converters requires operation oflasers to create an optical signal in the E/O conversion. Conversion theother way, from optical to electrical, requires a photodetector. If nopower is consumed either way, there is likely a failure. The system canalso use periodic checks to insure that all connections are up andrunning.

The same situation applies to the service/sector detectors 304-1 to304-12. If there is no communication at all between the signal inputs tothe building and the Service/Sector input to the head end unit, there islikely a problem, either a broken connection or a failure of the inputcommunications mode. For optical portions, a photodetector can determinewhether optical inputs or outputs are operable. For electrical portions,a power meter or a detection circuit on the lasers may be sufficient.Other ways may be used to detect, such as the presence or absence of avoltage on a line to determine whether a signal is connected or isactive.

Two flowcharts are presented to illustrate ways in which the distributedantenna system of the present disclosure may be used. The firstflowchart is depicted in FIG. 11, for a method 1100 of minimizingcommunications interruptions and insuring reliability. The methodarranges a plurality of communications services to an area, such as abuilding or a particular business or entity. The communications servicesmay be provided through over-the-air antennas, wired or optical cable,or a combination of these. A first step 1101 of the method is to arrangea plurality of radio distributor/combiner modules to connect with aplurality of optical input modules (OIMs) to provide a plurality ofcommunications services through one or more sectors. The second step1102 of the method is to provide a plurality of primary communicationspaths for the plurality of communications services through the RDCs tothe OIMs. A failure is detected 1103 of at least one communicationsservice of the plurality of communications services. The routing of asecondary communications service to at least one secondary path is thenused 1104 to provide a substitute service for the failed service.

Another method is disclosed in the flowchart of FIG. 12. In this method1200, a first step 1201 is to disconnect at least one failed firstcommunications service. In order to restore service, one then determines1202 an operational substitute communications service for use as the atleast one second communications service from among the plurality ofcommunications services. Before restoring a failed service, a suitablesubstitute service must be determined, as described herein. In order toprovide this service, one then configures 1203 the at least onesecondary redundant communication path using the operational substitutecommunications service in place of the at least one failed firstcommunications service. With everything ready, the substitutecommunications service is then connected 1204 to the secondary redundantcommunications path. There are many other ways to operate thedistributed antenna system to provide reliable communications services.

The RDCs of this disclosure may combine or split their input electricalsignals in any practical and desirable manner. These include allpossible multiplexing methods, such as frequency division, codedivision, time division, hybrid frequency/time based multiplexing, andso forth. Several such techniques are well known in the art. There sametechniques may be used in the remote antenna units to combine and splitthe optical signals for uplink or downlink transmission, respectively

In view of this disclosure, it will be seen that technologies aregenerally described for improving the reliability of communicationsservices within an area or a building served by a distributed antennasystem.

There are many embodiments of the present disclosure, of which a fewadditional are presented here. A first embodiment, as described above,includes a distributed antenna system with a first plurality of RDCs, asecond plurality of RDCs, a first switching matrix and a secondswitching matrix. This first embodiment also includes a control moduleconfigured for routing the plurality of communications services to thefirst plurality of RDCs and for routing the plurality of communicationsservices to the plurality of OIMs, wherein the control module isconfigured, in the event of a failure of a first communications service,for controlling routing of a second communications service through theRDC modules and the switching matrices to at least one of the pluralityof optical input modules (OIMs) to provide a substitute service for thefirst failed service. Another embodiment of the system further includesa plurality of detectors configured to detect that the firstcommunications service of the plurality of communications services hasfailed.

In another embodiment, the failure of the first communications serviceof the plurality of communications services is a failure of a connectionof the first communications service of the plurality of communicationsservices to at least one of the plurality of OIMs. In anotherembodiment, the control module further includes hardware and softwarefor controlling the routing; in this embodiment. The controlled routingdisables a first communication path for the first failed communicationsservice and connects a second communication path for the secondcommunications service of the plurality of communications services toprovide the substitute service. In this embodiment, the switching matrixis further configured for controlling routing of a second of theplurality of communications services through the RDC modules to theplurality of optical input modules (OIMs) to provide a substituteservice for a second failed service.

In another embodiment, the plurality of RDC modules includes a firstplurality of RDC modules connected to a second plurality of RDC modules.The distributed antenna system further includes a head end unit (HEU)module including the first plurality of RDC modules and the firstswitching matrix of the plurality of programmable switches. The HEU isconfigured for connecting the plurality of communications services tothe first plurality of RDC modules through the first switching matrixand an optical interface unit (OIU) module including the secondplurality of RDC modules and the second switching matrix of theplurality of programmable switches. The OIU is configured for connectingthe second plurality of RDC modules to the plurality of OIMs through thesecond switching matrix. In another embodiment, the plurality of OIMsare connected to a plurality of clients. In one embodiment, theplurality of clients are wireless devices selected from the groupconsisting of cellular phones, smart phones, wireless lap-top computers,tablet computers, pad computers and sensor networks. In yet anotherembodiment, the plurality of communications services comprises at leasttwo services selected from the group consisting of WiFi, Ethernet, DSL,LTE, Wireless Access Points (WAPs), PCS, 2G, 3G, 4G, Remote Radio Heads(RRH), Radio over Fiber Optic Cable (RoF), WiMax, LAN, CDMA, TDMA, GSM,WDM and WLAN.

In another embodiment, the distributed antenna system is configured toserve a geographic area selected from the group consisting of abuilding, an area of a building and one or more rooms of a building.Another embodiment that includes the plurality of detectors describedabove, further includes a network configured for providing the pluralityof communications services, wherein the control module is incommunication with the network. In this embodiment, the detection by theplurality of detectors that the first of the plurality of communicationsservices has failed further includes detecting at the network whetherthe first of the plurality of communications services has failed andcommunicating the detected failure at the network to the control module.In another embodiment that includes the detectors, each of the pluralityof RDC modules, each of the plurality of OIM modules and each of theplurality of communications services are in communication with at leastone of the plurality of detectors. In this embodiment, the detection bythe plurality of detectors that the first communications service hasfailed includes the step of detecting with at the at least one detectorwhether a current, voltage or power level of the first communicationsservice has dropped below a predetermined level, the predetermined levelbeing indicative of a failure of the first communications service.

In another embodiment, the control module is configured for determiningthat at least one communications service of the plurality ofcommunications services is operational by determining availablebandwidth of the at least one communications service and controllingswitching to provide a path of the least one operational service to thefirst OIM of the plurality of OIMs based upon the available bandwidth.In this system, the step of providing the path based upon the availablebandwidth further includes obtaining configuration data associated witha client, determining one or more communications services connected tothe OIM that the client is authorized to access, and controllingswitching to provide a path of the least one operational service to thefirst OIM of the plurality of OIMs based upon the access authorizationof the client.

Already described above is another illustrative embodiment of adistributed antenna system. This illustrative embodiment include a firstplurality of RDCs, a second plurality of RDCs, first and secondswitching matrices, and a control module. In another embodiment, furtherincludes a head end unit (HEU), the HEU including the first plurality ofRDCs and the first switching matrix and an optical input unit (OUI), theOIU including the second plurality of RDCs and the second switchingmatrix, the first plurality of RDCs are further configured for combiningthe plurality of communications services into a broadband communicationsignal or for expanding the broadband communication signal into aplurality of communications services. In another embodiment, each of theplurality of communications services has a number of redundant pathsthrough the first switching matrix equal to a quantity of communicationssectors times a quantity of the first plurality of RDCs. In thisembodiment, each of the plurality of OIMs has a quantity of redundantpaths through the second switching matrix equal to a quantity ofcommunications sectors times the second plurality of RDCs.

Another embodiment described above is a method for controlling adistributed antenna system. The method includes steps of arranging aplurality of radio distributor/combines modules, providing a pluralityof primary communications paths, detecting a failure of at least onefirst communications service of the plurality of communicationsservices, and controlling routing of at least one second communicationsservice of the plurality of communications services from the pluralityof primary communication paths to at least one secondary redundant pathto provide a substitute service for the failed first communicationsservice. In another embodiment, the plurality of RDC modules includes afirst plurality of radio distributor/combiner (RDC) modules and a secondplurality of RDC modules, wherein the first plurality of RDC modules areconfigured for connecting the plurality of communications services withthe second plurality of RDC modules and for combining the plurality ofcommunications services into a broadband communication signal or forexpanding the broadband communication signal into a plurality ofcommunications services and wherein the second plurality of RDC modulesare configured for connecting the broadband communication signal withthe plurality of OIMs.

In another embodiment, the method further includes restoring the atleast one first failed communications service, controlling switching ofthe at least one second communications service from the at least onesecondary redundant communication path back to the plurality of primarycommunication paths, and controlling switching of the at least one firstfailed communications services on the plurality of primary communicationpaths. This method optionally may include steps of disconnecting the atleast one failed first communications service, wherein the step ofcontrolling routing of at least one second communications service of theplurality of communications services from the plurality of primarycommunication paths to at least one secondary redundant path furtherincludes determining an operational substitute communications servicefor use as the at least one second communications service from among theplurality of communications services, configuring the at least onesecondary redundant communication path using the operational substitutecommunications service in place of the at least one failed firstcommunications service and connecting the substitute service to thesecondary redundant communication path.

In another embodiment, the plurality of communications services throughthe plurality of RDC modules to the plurality of OIMs further includes athird communications service to the first OIM of the plurality of OIMs;this embodiment of the method further includes detecting an occurrencethat the third communications service has failed and controlling routingof the at least one second communications services from the plurality ofprimary communication paths to the plurality of secondary paths toprovide a substitute service for the failed third communicationsservice.

Another embodiment includes additional steps of determining availablebandwidth of a plurality of communications services remainingoperational after the first communications service has failed andselecting the at least one second communications services for routing tothe plurality of secondary communication paths based upon the availablebandwidth. In this embodiment, the step of determining the availablebandwidth optionally further includes obtaining configuration dataassociated with a remote antenna unit and a client of the failed firstcommunications services, determining the one or more communicationsservices connected to the second plurality of RDC modules that theclient is authorized to access and selecting at least a second of theplurality of communications services for routing to the plurality ofsecondary communication paths based upon the available bandwidth andbased upon the access authorization of the client of the at least onefailed communications service. In this method, the step of detecting theoccurrence of the failure of the at least one first communicationsservices optionally further comprises detecting whether the at least onefirst communications service has failed at a network input. In analternative method, the step of detecting the occurrence of the failureof at the least one first communications service is accomplished by acustomer complaint.

The embodiments disclosed herein are also applicable to other remoteantenna clusters and distributed antenna systems, including those thatinclude other forms of communications media for distribution ofcommunications signals, including electrical conductors and wirelesstransmission. The embodiments disclosed herein may also be applicable toremote antenna clusters and distributed antenna systems and may alsoinclude more than one communications media for distribution ofcommunications signals (e.g., digital data services, RF communicationsservices).

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detaileddescription which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing theembodiments as described herein, including the detailed description thatfollows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings. It is to beunderstood that both the foregoing general description and the followingdetailed description present embodiments, and are intended to provide anoverview or framework for understanding the nature and character of thedisclosure. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments, and togetherwith the description serve to explain the principles and operation ofthe concepts disclosed

These methods include operating the distributed antenna system (DAS) andinsuring that connectivity and service are restored as soon as possibleafter any and all interruptions. Thus, the system includes ways toovercome and correct failure of the distributed antenna system using asoftware based recovery application. The software program containsnon-transitory instructions for detecting failures and operatingswitching matrices within the head end unit 120 and the remote opticalinput units (OIU) that are more fully described below.

The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particularembodiments described in this application, which are intended asillustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations canbe made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparentto those skilled in the art. Functionally equivalent methods andapparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to thoseenumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from theforegoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intendedto fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosureis to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along withthe full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It isto be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particularmethods, reagents, compounds compositions or biological systems, whichcan, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodimentsonly, and is not intended to be limiting.

In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are describedin terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individualmember or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, otheraspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes ofillustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scopeand spirit being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a wireless communicationsystem, the method comprising: arranging a plurality of radiodistributor/combiner (RDC) modules for connecting a plurality ofcommunications services with a plurality of input modules, at least oneof the plurality of communications services being provided through oneor more sectors, the plurality of RDC modules including a firstplurality of radio distributor/combiner (RDC) modules and a secondplurality of RDC modules; providing a plurality of primary communicationpaths for the at least one communication service through the pluralityof RDC modules to the plurality of OIMs; detecting a failure of at leastone first communications service of the plurality of communicationsservices; and controlling routing of at least one second communicationsservice of the plurality of communications services from the pluralityof primary communication paths to at least one secondary redundantcommunication path to provide a substitute service for the at least onefailed first communications service.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein:the first plurality of RDC modules are configured for connecting theplurality of communications services with the second plurality of RDCmodules and for combining the plurality of communications services intoa broadband communication signal or for expanding the broadbandcommunication signal into a plurality of communications services; andthe second plurality of RDC modules are configured for connecting thebroadband communication signal with the plurality of input modules. 3.The method of claim 1, further comprising: restoring the at least onefailed first communications service; controlling switching of the atleast one second communications service from the at least one secondaryredundant communication path back to the plurality of primarycommunication paths; and controlling switching of the at least onefailed first communications service on the plurality of primarycommunication paths.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprisingdisconnecting the at least one failed first communications service,wherein the step of controlling routing of the at least one secondcommunications service of the plurality of communications services fromthe plurality of primary communication paths to the at least onesecondary redundant communication path further comprises the steps of:determining an operational substitute communications service for use asthe at least one second communications service from among the pluralityof communications services; configuring the at least one secondaryredundant communication path using the operational substitutecommunications service in place of the at least one failed firstcommunications service; and connecting the operational substitutecommunications service to the at least one secondary redundantcommunication path.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality ofcommunications services through the plurality of RDC modules to theplurality of input modules further includes a third communicationsservice to a first input module of the plurality of input modules, andfurther comprising: detecting an occurrence that the thirdcommunications service has failed; and controlling routing of the atleast one second communications services from the plurality of primarycommunication paths to a plurality of secondary communication paths toprovide a substitute service for the failed third communicationsservice.
 6. The method of claim 3, further comprising: determiningavailable bandwidth of the plurality of communications servicesremaining operational after the first communications service has failed;and selecting the at least one second communications service for routingto a plurality of secondary communication paths based upon the availablebandwidth.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining theavailable bandwidth further comprises the steps of: obtainingconfiguration data associated with a remote antenna unit and a client ofthe at least one failed first communications service; determining one ormore communications services connected to the second plurality of RDCmodules that the client is authorized to access; and selecting at leasta second of the plurality of communications services for routing to theplurality of secondary communication paths based upon the availablebandwidth and based upon the access authorization of the client of theat least one failed first communications service.
 8. The method of claim7, wherein: the step of detecting the occurrence of the failure of theat least one first communications services further comprises detectingwhether the at least one first communications service has failed at anetwork input; and the step of detecting the occurrence of the failureof at the least one first communications service is accomplished by acustomer complaint.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the wirelesscommunication system comprises a plurality of remote units.
 10. A methodfor controlling a wireless communication system, the method comprising:arranging a plurality of radio distributor/combiner (RDC) modules forconnecting a plurality of communications services with a plurality ofoptical input modules (OIMs), each of the plurality of communicationsservices provided through one or more sectors; providing a plurality ofprimary communication paths for the plurality of communications servicesthrough the plurality of RDC modules to the plurality of OIMs; detectinga failure of at least one first communications service of the pluralityof communications services; controlling routing of at least one secondcommunications service of the plurality of communications services fromthe plurality of primary communication paths to at least one secondaryredundant communication path; and restoring the at least one failedfirst communications service.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein: theplurality of RDC modules comprises a first plurality of radiodistributor/combiner (RDC) modules and a second plurality of RDCmodules; the first plurality of RDC modules are configured forconnecting the plurality of communications services with the secondplurality of RDC modules and for combining the plurality ofcommunications services into a broadband communication signal or forexpanding the broadband communication signal into a plurality ofcommunications services; and the second plurality of RDC modules areconfigured for connecting the broadband communication signal with theplurality of OIMs.
 12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:controlling switching of the at least one second communications servicefrom the at least one secondary redundant communication path back to theplurality of primary communication paths; and controlling switching ofthe at least one failed first communications service on the plurality ofprimary communication paths.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein theplurality of communications services through the plurality of RDCmodules to the plurality of OIMs further includes a third communicationsservice to a first OIM of the plurality of OIMs, and further comprising:detecting an occurrence that the third communications service hasfailed; and controlling routing of the at least one secondcommunications services from the plurality of primary communicationpaths to a plurality of secondary communication paths to provide asubstitute service for the failed third communications service.
 14. Amethod for controlling a wireless communication system comprising aplurality of remote units connected to a plurality of optical fibers,the method comprising: arranging a plurality of radiodistributor/combiner (RDC) modules for connecting a plurality ofcommunications services with a plurality of input modules, each of theplurality of communications services provided through one or moresectors; providing a plurality of primary communication paths for theplurality of communications services through the plurality of RDCmodules to the plurality of input module; detecting a failure of atleast one first communications service of the plurality ofcommunications services; and controlling routing of at least one secondcommunications service of the plurality of communications services fromthe plurality of primary communication paths to at least one secondaryredundant communication path to provide a substitute service for the atleast one failed first communications service.
 15. The method of claim14, wherein: the plurality of RDC modules comprises a first plurality ofradio distributor/combiner (RDC) modules and a second plurality of RDCmodules; the first plurality of RDC modules are configured forconnecting the plurality of communications services with the secondplurality of RDC modules and for combining the plurality ofcommunications services into a broadband communication signal or forexpanding the broadband communication signal into a plurality ofcommunications services; and the second plurality of RDC modules areconfigured for connecting the broadband communication signal with theplurality of input modules.
 16. The method of claim 14, furthercomprising: restoring the at least one failed first communicationsservice; controlling switching of the at least one second communicationsservice from the at least one secondary redundant communication pathback to the plurality of primary communication paths; and controllingswitching of the at least one failed first communications service on theplurality of primary communication paths.
 17. The method of claim 14,further comprising disconnecting the at least one failed firstcommunications service, wherein the step of controlling routing of theat least one second communications service of the plurality ofcommunications services from the plurality of primary communicationpaths to the at least one secondary redundant communication path furthercomprises the steps of: determining an operational substitutecommunications service for use as the at least one second communicationsservice from among the plurality of communications services; configuringthe at least one secondary redundant communication path using theoperational substitute communications service in place of the at leastone failed first communications service; and connecting the operationalsubstitute communications service to the at least one secondaryredundant communication path.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein theplurality of communications services through the plurality of RDCmodules to the plurality of input modules further includes a thirdcommunications service to a first input module of the plurality of inputmodules, and further comprising: detecting an occurrence that the thirdcommunications service has failed; and controlling routing of the atleast one second communications services from the plurality of primarycommunication paths to a plurality of secondary communication paths toprovide a substitute service for the failed third communicationsservice.
 19. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of detecting afailure of at least one first communications service includes receivinga customer complaint.